Beyond The Spectrum

Apprentice Groups for Adults

Beyond The Spectrum

Free Apprentice Groups

For Adults

Scroll down to find yours!

What is an apprentice group?

Beyond the Spectrum Apprentice Writing Groups are designed for Autistic Adults (18+) who are looking for a group which combines writing and creative development with an opportunity to explore what it’s like to facilitate your own writing group. Ideal for people who have already taken part in Beyond the Spectrum, but open to anyone who feels these groups are a good fit for them.

Key features of Apprentice Writing groups:

Guided by, and half of the sessions directly led by, a professional writer
Participant-led or facilitated for the rest of the sessions: a chance to write together, share work, or try out leading a session
A free training session with professional writer Emma Pass, focused on how to run your own writing group
Access to exclusive resources including sessions plans and writing prompts
Full access to the BTS community, including our magazine, festival, and online workshops.

These groups are for you if you want to keep writing with likeminded people, or would like to learn more about developing your own writing group. They’re designed to be a flexible space to grow as a writer and develop your interests.

Aoife Mannix

Aoife Mannix is the author of a novel, five collections of poetry, two pamphlets and seven libretti. She has worked as a script editor for the BBC as well as for Channel 4 and the Royal Court Theatre. She has a PhD in creative writing from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Wednesday Evenings

With Aoife Mannix and Deborah Potter

WORKSHOP DETAILS

K Angel

K Angel is an autistic trans/non-binary writer, performer, and researcher from the American Midwest. Shortlisted for the Virago Furies Competition, their projects across form and genre play with myth, consent, chosen family, and metamorphosis interruptus. Recent projects include The Road Again: a post-apocalyptic queer cowboy musical, CLUSTERFLUFF (a circus and cabaret celebration of queer nightlife history across the UK), and the poetry collection Another double text, forthcoming from kith books. They live in London, where they co-host the playwriting group Fresh Lines Writers and the generative workshop series Relatively Queer.

Wednesday evenings for LGBTQIA+ Adults

With K Angel and Jess Telling

WORKSHOP DETAILS

Nell Osborne

Nell Osborne is a neurodivergent poet and novelist. In 2024, she published a poetry pamphlet, Thank You For Everything, with Monitor Books. Her first novel, Ghost Driver, came out in 2025 with Moist. She loves to help writers to find and develop their own unique voice.

Tuesday Evenings - Currently FULL

With Nell Osborne and Careese Hutchinson

WORKSHOP DETAILS

beyond the spectrum writing workshops

Want to know more?

If you want to know more about how the groups work you can read our FAQs page. or contact admin@beyondthespectrum.uk.

Click here to have a look at some of the work written by our previous members.

We also have a social story about how to join an online session – click here to learn more.

Why join BTS?

Our members join our writing workshops for lots of different reasons: to find a creative outlet for their emotions, improve their writing and make lasting friendships – to name a few. Everyone has different reasons for joining and needs to be met. And it’s up to you to decide what you want to get out of Beyond The Spectrum! Regardless, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in each of our creative writing workshops.

The adult writing workshops are for Autistic writers aged 18 and over. You don’t need to be formally diagnosed to join. And although some of our online groups have a specific area focus, if you are not from that exact area but you’re interested in the group, we’re happy for you to sign up.

Make friends Express yourself Write together

Our Beyond The Spectrum writing workshops for Autistic adults meet at least once a month to socialise, write together and express themselves creatively. You can choose whether to join one of our online creative writing classes or one that meets in-person. Beyond the Spectrum groups are 100% free to attend.

Each creative writing group takes place on a different day/time of the month (weekday evenings) and is run by a Lead Writer and a Shadow Writer, each with lived experience of Autism. You can find out more about each workshop and their leaders above.

A typical writing workshop might start off with space to catch up, followed by writing exercises on a chosen topic and the opportunity to share work. Learn more about how the groups work by clicking here.